Woman says officer held her face in fire ant bed during arrest, police refute claim

[KARAH RUCKER]
THIS IS TAYLOR ROGERS.
AND THIS IS ROGERS – COVERED IN ANT BITES –
AFTER SHE SAYS POLICE WERE ARRESTING HER –
AND HELD HER DOWN IN AN ANT PILE.
SANTA FE ISD POLICE – WHO INITIATED THE ARREST IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT –
ARE REFUTING THE WOMAN’S CLAIMS –
SAYING – THERE WERE NO ANTS.
ROGERS – WHO SAYS SHE SUFFERS FROM MENTAL ILLNESS – CLAIMS HER CIVIL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED AND IS SUING.
THE ALTERCATION HAPPENED IN AUGUST OF 2021 –
AFTER ROGERS ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO MAKE AN ILLEGAL TURN INTO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARKING LOT – DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE WRONG WAY.
SCHOOL POLICE AND CITY POLICE TRIED TO PULL HER OVER.
AND ROGERS FLED – SOMETHING SHE PLEADED GUILTY TO.
IT’S WHAT FOLLOWED AFTER ROGERS WAS EVENTUALLY STOPPED BY AUTHORITIES THAT SHE AND POLICE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF EVENTS.
ROGERS’ ATTORNEY RELEASED A CLIP OF BODY CAM FOOTAGE OF THE ARREST.
SHOWING ROGERS SCREAMING FOR HELP.

[ROGERS]
“ANTS ARE ON MY FACE, ANTS ARE GETTING ON MY FACE.”

[KARAH RUCKER]
ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT – AN OFFICER “TWISTED ROGER’S (PLAINTIFF’S) LEG WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, HOG TIED HER AND BURIED HER FACE IN A PILE OF FIRE ANTS LEAVING HER (THE PLAINTIFFS’) FACE AND BODY IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN.”
THE SANTA FE ISD POLICE CHIEF – TOLD KHOU IN HOUSTON – THE SNIPPET THE ATTORNEY PROVIDED IS MISLEADING.

[SANTA FE ISD POLICE CHIEF RUBEN ESPINOZA]
“THEY STOP THE CLIP THEY PROVIDED TO YOU. AND THE OFFICER SAYS CALM DOWN AND WE WILL LIFT YOU UP.”

[KARAH RUCKER]
THE SCHOOL POLICE CHIEF GAVE **THIS PICTURE TO NEWS OUTLETS –
SAYING “THERE WERE NO FIRE ANTS WHEN ROGERS WAS BEING HANDCUFFED”.
THE CITY OF SANTA FE INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT BACK IN 2021 –
AND FOUND THE OFFICERS INVOLVED – FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT – HAD ACTED **APPROPRIATELY IN THE SITUATION.
AS PART OF THE CIVIL SUIT –
ROGERS WANTS THE OFFICERS TO BE DISCIPLINED AND FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL “DE-ESCALATING TRAINING.”
THE CITY SAYS IT DOESN’T COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION.